Prices & tariffs

Contracts & licences

• What is a permanent licence and what is an individual licence?

  We no longer use either term.  Just to be clear though: A permanent licence means a contract. Music is used here over a longer period of time. An individual licence relates to licences for individual events only.

• In which cases can I enter into a contract with GEMA?

  You will need a GEMA licence if you play music regularly and on a recurring basis at a fixed location, for example as background music in business premises, restaurants or hairdressing salons. Register the music via the GEMA online portal and we will send you a licence offer. Licence terms are available for one month, one quarter or one year.

  
  You must register any use of music not covered by the licence separately. For example, if you have a licence for background music, you must register any additional event featuring live music separately with GEMA. Each type of use is billed in accordance with the applicable GEMA tariff.

• What is a licence for an event?

  "License" is a legal term meaning "permission" or "authorization."
  
  Let’s assume that you notify us of an event which takes place once, e.g. a concert, a party, an opening ceremony or a vernissage. If you notify us in time, we will provide you with a licence (permission) that enables you to use music in public at the eve.

• Are individual events covered by my contract?

  As a rule, individual events are not covered by permanent contracts. Two examples:
   

  1. You have a contract for background music in your restaurant.  Now, you are holding an evening with cabaret.
  2. You run a discotheque and have a contract for the communication to the public (playback) of sound recordings.  Now, you want to hold an evening with live music.
      

  In both cases, the following applies: You must notify us of the events in addition to your contract. These are not covered by the contract. After all, these are different types of music use to the ones provided for in the contract.